Overview
The New Era: A Round Table Discussion on how Sports, Culture, Tourism and Entertainment are Defining the Future of Saudi Arabia comes as Saudi Arabia is in the midst of a cultural revolution, nurturing the development of an entertainment and sports ecosystem that scant existed only a few years back. It is against this backdrop that The Business Year also presents a special report discussing sports, culture, tourism, and entertainment. The report will shine a spotlight on those who form this crucial aspect of wider economic diversification plans.
In 2018, the Quality of Life Program was launched to directly impact the life of local communities and add a new spoke to a growing economic wheel. The changes are coming at breakneck speed, both the public and private sectors have whirred into action, and are currently set about pioneering cultural, entertainment, and sports initiatives with the aim of not only entertaining locals, but drawing in tourists to the Kingdom.
The economic returns of continued success should be obvious to all, with jobs and new revenue streams just the tip of the iceberg for a Saudi government that hopes growing soft power could be a powerful economic tool long term.
Throughout this special report, and at this event, we will tell the story of the birth of a sector through the words of the leaders who are busy trying to make it a success, including a number of foreign investors, heads of government authorities, and figures involved in the development of the well-known “gigaprojects” that are placing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions prominently into news feeds around the world. And now the starting gun has been fired, anything could happen.
Special Report: The New Era, How Sports, Culture, Tourism and Entertainment are Defining the Future of Saudi Arabia will be officially launched on this special occasion.
Speakers
Alena Hakansson
Managing Director - Saudi Arabia, The Business Year
Alena Hakansson
Managing Director - Saudi Arabia, The Business Year
Alena Hakansson is the Managing Director for The Business Year in Saudi Arabia. She has over a decade of experience in communications, marketing, and business development for both corporations and media companies. Whilst in the field, she has established relationships with countless business leaders and has conducted over a thousand high-profile presentations and interviews with executives, partners, ministers, investors, and politicians around the world. She has successfully managed projects working in Nigeria, the UAE., Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Greece, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and more. Her strategies have resulted in collaborations with government authorities, Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and renowned corporations. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in psychology.
Hussein Alabdulkader
Secretary General, Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC)
Hussein Alabdulkader
Secretary General, Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC)
Hussain Abdulkader obtained his bachelor’s degree in sociology from King Abdulaziz University and a diploma in human resources management from the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is currently Secretary General & Assistant Secretary-General for Executive Affairs at the Federation of Saudi Chambers. He is also a member of the board of directors of the International Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors of the Global Compact Initiative, a member of the Executive Leadership Committee of the Federation of Gulf Chambers, and a member of the board of directors of GS1 Saudi Arabia.
Khalid Alkhudair
CEO, Saudi Media Company
Khalid Alkhudair
CEO, Saudi Media Company
Khalid Alkhudair joined SMC in 2022 to lead the company into becoming the largest media, sports, and entertainment company in the region. His last role was as chief experience officer (CXO) at Riyad Bank. He also worked as an advisor to the Saudi Banks Media Committee, which he was tasked to restructure in 2021 as acting secretary general. Prior to this role he founded Glowork, an employment organization that created thousands of jobs for women and has placed over 40,000 women into work so far. He is the first Saudi Ashoka Fellow, Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, and an Endeavor Entrepreneur. Previously, he held the role of COO-markets at KPMG in Saudi, Kuwait, and Jordan. In 2013 he led Glow Group to an investment to expand its current operations into different verticals. He has a bachelor's degree in commerce from Saint Mary’s University in Canada with three majors; marketing, HR, and psychology. He completed his executive education in leadership at the University of Yale, and in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School.
Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Anbar
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Quality of Life Program
Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Anbar
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Quality of Life Program
Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Anbar is Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Quality of Life Program, with a background in communications, having received his bachelor degree in communications from the US and a master’s degree in the same field from the UK. He started his career in advertising and marketing from local and international agencies like Impact BBDO, then lead the PR division at Banque Saudi Fransi. He then shifted into the government sector where he was part of The Priority Project Office, a prestigious Vision 2030 initiative established by royal decree. He then moved to the Ministry of Investment, where he co-founded the added value services, giving investors personal and corporate services and facilitating their needs. He was also part of the regional headquarter attraction team including many other activities from delegations to enhancing the investors’ journey in the Kingdom. He is also a member of the tourism investment sub-committee.
Neal Coupland
Sport Partnerships Director, NEOM
Neal Coupland
Sport Partnerships Director, NEOM
With over 25 years’ experience in the sport world, Neal Coupland brings his considerable experience in commercial rights, partnerships, broadcasting, and marketing to NEOM. Over the last four years, he has led NEOM Sport partnerships to an array of achievements, with standout successes including pioneering the NEOM McLaren electric racing partnership, amplifying NEOM’s brand to the world’s largest football audience with the Asian Football Confederation sponsorship, and launching a Kingdom-wide community youth football and talent identification program.
Jason Margetts
Group Chief Sales Officer, ROSHN
Jason Margetts
Group Chief Sales Officer, ROSHN
Jason Margetts has over 17 years of experience in real estate management, development, and sales. He is a specialist in this field, having held management positions in several leading companies in the real estate sector.
Donal McElwee
Partner and Head of Middle East and Africa, Portas Consulting
Donal McElwee
Partner and Head of Middle East and Africa, Portas Consulting
Donal McElwee leads Portas Consulting in the Middle East. He has worked on 70+ engagements in the Saudi sports sector since 2015. Prior to Portas, he worked in general management consultancy and corporate law in the UK and US. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the Wharton School.
Program
06:00PM
Welcome address by Alena Hakansson, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia The Business Year
06:05PM
Welcome Speech by Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Anbar, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Quality of Life Program
06:35PM
Fireside chat with Donal McElwee, Partner and Head of Middle East and Africa, Portas Consulting
06:45PM
Closing remarks by Hussein Alabdulkader, Secretary General, Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC)